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An immersive Charlie Chaplin museum has been built in Switzerland at his home on Lake Geneva where he spent the last fifteen years of his life. It’s called Chaplin’s World and it is dedicated to upholding his legacy and bringing his spirit of entertainment and humor to life. It is set in the estate built above Vevey in canton Vaud, with a view of the Alps. (Long-awaited Chaplin museum opens in Switzerland) Many family members were involved or present when it was opened. Visitors are allowed to walk through the mansion and look around the rooms that have been preserved. There are also wax figures playing out scenes from his films while many different screens play his films on the walls behind those figures. In addition to the home, an entire mock film set has been built for visitors to walk through. There are entire sets embellished by film screens to immerse visitors in the experience as if they were walking through a Charlie Chaplin movie. Some of his actual costume pieces, such as his iconic hat, cane, and shoes are on display is a safe location. (Long-awaited Chaplin museum opens in Switzerland)

Sources: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/chaplin-s-world_long-awaited-chaplin-museum-opens-in-switzerland/42093536
Photo: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/chaplin-s-world_long-awaited-chaplin-museum-opens-in-switzerland/42093536

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Cameroon is currently facing a devastating amount of extremist violence, often involving children. Children have been used as suicide bombers, and have been largely affected by the terror brought on by Boko Haram on the border of Cameroon. They are based in Nigeria and the attacks have gone on since 2014. But this year on November 21st, a fifteen-year-old named Divina Maloum, from Cameroon, has won a children’s international peace prize for her contributions to protect and support children threatened by violence. (Cameroonian teen wins international peace prize) This same prize was also given to Greta Thunberg.

Maloum has founded the Children for Peace movement that helps children who have been exposed to terror. She speaks to many kids about their situations and helps them understand their own rights and the ways that people intend to use them. She has done incredible things for the children of Cameroon and in her speech she reminded everyone that children are necessary to create peace, and that every child should be able to stand up for their rights. KidsRights, a Dutch organization that has recognized her self-sufficient actions, gave the award to her. (Cameroonian teen wins international peace prize)

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/clm1wxp5p5jt/cameroon
Photo: https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/clm1wxp5p5jt/cameroon

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A solar farm is being constructed in Seychelles to help 400 low-income homes benefit from its energy. This new energy source is supposed to become completely up and running by January in the Ile de Romainville. These households are those that are already being supported by the Agency for Social Protection in Seychelles that provides services for households in vulnerable situations. The Public Utilities Corporation is managing this current project. It will cover half of the Ile de Romainville’s perimeter, and will produce 7 million kilowatts of energy every year. (400 homes in Seychelles to soon benefit from solar energy installation)

It has been announced that each household will be able to use 300 kilowatts of the energy that is produced without having to pay, but everything after that will not be free. This information was shared by the chief executive of the Seychelles Energy Commission. This project is intended to benefit the families who are struggling to pay for themselves, and to help save the Public Utilities Corporation money, while also limiting carbon dioxide emissions. The whole project will end up costing around $10.2 million. (400 homes in Seychelles to soon benefit from solar energy installation)

Sources: http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/11923/+homes+in+Seychelles+to+soon+benefit+from+solar+energy+installation
Photo: http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/11923/+homes+in+Seychelles+to+soon+benefit+from+solar+energy+installation

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The French-speaking part of Switzerland is called Normandy, and a huge part of its history is the Tour de Normandie. It is a major cycling event that brings together French-speaking cultures and promotes this small portion of Switzerland. It began with only 40 cyclists that came together and were split into ten separate teams. The event has since grown over time and now lasts six days, includes twenty professional teams, and 160 cyclists. There are also 170 motorcyclists involved. (Tour De Romandie) The event itself is a stage race and it was created to celebrate the Swiss Cycling Union in 1947, for its 50th anniversary. It includes six stages, with different distances and features at each location. It is now certainly the most popular sporting event in French-speaking Switzerland, and it always receives an incredible amount of press, with viewers on the roadsides and watching on tv. The race takes place in cities such as Morges, Le Locle, La Chaux-De-Fonds, Neuchâtel and many others. The seventy-fourth event will begin on April 28th, and end on May 3rd 2020. (Tour De Romandie)

Sources: https://www.tourderomandie.ch/en/organisation/tour-de-romandie/
Photo: https://www.tourderomandie.ch/en/medias/photos/

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Benin’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, and about 80% of the population makes a living on it. Many families own farms, but they are faced with many complications, such as flooding and bad infrastructure. Cotton and rice are typically the country’s biggest productions, but sometimes the ability to produce rice decreases and it must rely more on imports. Cotton has been negatively affected by poor management, causing it to decline. However, it makes up 35% of the country’s exports. (Integrated Production and Pest Management Programme in Africa)

There is now a programme, called IPPM, that is dedicated to improving these conditions and achieving sustainability to improve the country’s agricultural production. They are raising awareness about bad pesticides, and they are providing schools that teach farmers how to better manage their crops, boost production, and avoid poor infrastructure. (Integrated Production and Pest Management Programme in Africa) Many farmers have already been able to improve and diversify through this program. They are now growing more crops such as maize and soybean along with the cotton. IPPM is working with multiple other programs to improve the lives and exports in Benin, and to improve these conditions in other agricultural areas in Africa.

Sources: http://www.fao.org/agriculture/ippm/projects/benin/en/

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In 2018, the Grammy award-winning artist, Akon, announced plans to buy land and establish his own cryptocurrency called AKoin. He will be creating a city in Senegal called Akon Crypto City, and believes that it will succeed due to security benefits. He wishes to create a place where people can advance themselves without government interruption of any kind. (Akon to build new city in Senegal with own cryptocurrency called AKoin) His 2,000 acres of land was gifted to him by the president of Senegal himself, who believes in his vision of having an entirely cryptocurrency dependent mini society. He announced these plans at a festival in Senegal, and when asked about the technical issues he claimed that he had other people to figure that out once he had presented his vision. Some people have doubted his concept, but he’s received some support due to successful projects in the past. For example, he created a charity called Akon Lighting Africa that was dedicated to helping sort out financial issues and use solar panels and other lighting projects across Africa. That project has since spread to seventeen other African countries and is established in multiple other nations. (Akon to build new city in Senegal with own cryptocurrency called AKoin)

Sources: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/akon-senegal-city-akoin-cryptocurrency-rapper-plan-a8410501.html
Photo: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/akon-senegal-city-akoin-cryptocurrency-rapper-plan-a8410501.html

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The Ivory Coast is home to beautiful rainforests that are in danger of deforestation. The cause is the expansion of power given to industrial chocolate manufacturers. There have been legal protections placed on the rainforests for a long time, in an attempt to prevent damage, but those laws might be removed soon to allow for more production. People have begun to campaign against this, and are protesting to save the environment that has already been significantly damaged. There are 7,700 square miles of forests on the Ivory Coast, and while they’re protected now, about 75% of them are deforested. (Ivory Coast law could see chocolate industry ‘wipe out’ protected forests) The government claims that the goal is to use already deforested areas to increase production, but many people believe that giving more power to these industrial companies will disenfranchise farmers. This is industry is also unethical in other ways, paying workers barely a dollar a day for manual labor, and giving them only 6% of the sale price. Yet since the Ivory Coast is the home of more than a third of the world’s cocoa production, the industry continues to drive deforestation. (Ivory Coast law could see chocolate industry ‘wipe out’ protected forests)

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/16/ivory-coast-law-could-see-chocolate-industry-wipe-out-protected-forests
Photo: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/16/ivory-coast-law-could-see-chocolate-industry-wipe-out-protected-forests

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Haitian cuisine blends many different influences to become what it is today. The cultural groups of Spain, France, Africa, and the Caribbean were all significant contributors to the history of Haiti, and of course their individual flavors left a mark. (Haitian Cuisine: A Blend of French, African, Spanish and more...) The first people to inhabit Haiti before the arrival of the European colonizers were the Taino, and they were said to have invented what we now call barbecue. They commonly roasted meat on a grill and the Spanish people exploring America noted what they were doing. The area of Hispaniola went through the hands of Spain and France, and during this time sugar, okra, taro and many other spices were cultivated. The French continued the production of cotton, coffee, and cocoa as well. (Haitian Cuisine: A Blend of French, African, Spanish and more…) Today the most popular Haitian dishes are rice with kidney beans, sometimes served with bouillon and other vegetables and spices. Boiled and marinated chicken and slow-cooked pork are both commonly served around Haiti, and Creole sauces are often incorporated into the popular Haitian seafood dishes. Due to the large production of sugar cane during the countries colonization, this plant still remains a common base for Haitian dessert. Shaved ice (called fresco) is also popular.

Sources:
https://buildabroad.org/2017/07/31/haitian-cuisine/
Photo:
https://buildabroad.org/2017/07/31/haitian-cuisine/

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Senegal is a country in West Africa that is 90% Muslim, and is known for its reputation of religious tolerance. (‘Largest Mosque in West Africa’ opens doors) The capital, Dakar, has become home to the largest mosque in all of West Africa. Considering the amount of the country that practices Islam, this is an incredibly valuable achievement for its people. It is called Massalikul Jinaan, meaning The Paths to Paradise, and it was built by the Mouride Sufi brotherhood. (‘Largest Mosque in West Africa’ opens doors)

It is said to be able to house 30,000 worshippers, and thousands of faithful Muslims have already traveled to see it the day it was inaugurated. The government donated the land it stands on, and it was paid for by private donations of over 30 million euros. (Huge Crowds for Inauguration of Senegal’s Mega-Mosque) The work was started a whole decade ago, and the country has taken great pride in it. Mountakha Mbacke led the Mourides who built it. They are a very important Sufi brotherhood that practices moderate Islam ideals and are predominate in Senegal. They are known as a very positive group, continuing traditions of religious tolerance. (Huge Crowds for Inauguration of Senegal’s Mega-Mosque)

Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cnx753jej07t/senegal
https://www.voanews.com/africa/huge-crowds-inauguration-senegals-mega-mosque
Photo: https://www.voanews.com/africa/huge-crowds-inauguration-senegals-mega-mosque

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Paris’ fashion week began on September 24th, and will end on October 1st. This portion of Paris’ event includes the spring and summer collections. One very notable line that has been presented so far is that of designer Maria Grazia Chiuri, for Christian Dior. Her collection was full of florals and the stage was set up with a grove of trees. Her commentary was intended to go far beyond just a spring garden theme. The fashion industry has been accused of contributing greatly to the damage being done to the planet. Chiuri wished to address this and reveal a love and appreciation of the earth in her collection. The design had a feminist angle, and Chiuri’s muse was apparently Catherine Dior, “a member of the resistance and a devoted plantswoman,” (Christian Dior opens Paris fashion week with a nod to nature). Another important feature of this line are the hats and hairstyles of every model. They all wore low-brimmed straw hats with two long braids, which be observed as a nod to the famous young climate activitst, Greta Thunberg.

Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/sep/24/christian-dior-opens-paris-fashion-week-with-nod-to-nature
https://fhcm.paris/en/paris-fashion-week-en/
Photo: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/sep/24/christian-dior-opens-paris-fashion-week-with-nod-to-nature

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Belgium is known for its chocolate industry, which made up 9% of all its food sales in 2017. (How Belgian chocolate is under threat from international takeovers and 'Chocolate Gansters') While it does account for a large amount of its exports, and is an incredible asset to the country, it also brings a lot of pride to Belgian people. This pride has been jeopardized, as foreign companies are buying Belgian brands. One of these well-known names is Galler. Some people are saying that this has become a battle about heritage, and many believe that chocolatiers should only be considered Belgian if the products are manufactured there. People wish to protect the right processes, techniques, and expertise that is so unique to the country. It seems that many companies still keep their production in Belgium, so they can keep the “Belgian chocolate” label. Many people purchasing Godiva chocolate or other big names might not think about where the chocolate is actually made, but many Belgian people are upset by what’s going on. Many believe that chocolate is apart of the nation’s identity, and foreign companies are now taking this for granted.

Sources: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/belgian-chocolate-crisis-threat-food-a8409771.html
Photo: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/belgian-chocolate-crisis-threat-food-a8409771.html

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The Festival du nouveau cinéma has been exposing audiences to daring new film projects for over forty years. The festival itself is based in Montreal, Quebec, and showcases works of art from Quebec and all over the world. According to the event’s official website, their mission is to expose viewers to bold new ideas, upcoming creators, and a wide range of styles, including, “one-of-a-kind niche works to crowd pleasers to daringly innovative big events” (Nouveau Cinema). This year’s festival, its forty-eighth year, will last from October ninth to October twentieth, and will showcase everything from widely-anticipated pieces to off-beat experimental concepts in an attempt to bring light and attention to all kinds of films. (Film Freeway)

The festival includes places to have conversations, meetings, and environments where artists and viewers can come together to share ideas. The creators hope to get new ideas out to the general public, allowing people to enjoy film together in a fun informal setting. Considering how long the festival has gone on, and the positive coverage it’s received, they seem to have been very successful. (Nouveau Cinema)

Sources: https://nouveaucinema.ca/en/vision-and-history
https://filmfreeway.com/Festivaldunouveaucinema
Photo: https://nouveaucinema.ca/en/vision-and-history

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France is currently going through a heightened state of crisis regarding “femicides”, and deaths resulting from domestic violence. France is known to have one of the highest rates of domestic violence related deaths against women in Western Europe. Their statistics show that there are 0.18 victims for every 100,000 women killed by their partner. But as the 100th documented femicide case this year has occurred, the French Prime Minister is taking purposeful action to prevent the violence. After the tragic death of 21-year-old Salomé, the government’s plans provide a glimmer of hope for the women of France. The Prime Minister Edouard Phillipe launched a summit involving many professionals and representatives to take action. He plans to take many emergency measures. Emergency accommodation and shelters will be created. Police stations will be processed to analyze the way women’s complaints are treated, and all these steps will be taken to ensure that these situations are resolved faster, prevented more often, and taken seriously by all law enforcement. Of course, even more can be done to successfully stop this problem, and many other plans are being developed to truly make a difference.

Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49571327?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c302m85qenyt/france&link_location=live-reporting-story